There are things you should and should not do in order to pull off a great event. Whether you're seasoned or a first-timer, here are a handful of do's and don'ts for all event planners. Consider these, and you may avoid some common pitfalls and mistakes.

A while back, I was sitting here at Sandy Cove, looking out at the river, and thinking. I was trying to imagine what it would feel like to come back for a visit in 20 or 30 years (assuming I am not still working here then). I’m sure I would notice changes.

I’m going to tell you three things about myself, and ask you which one is the hardest to believe.

Are you in charge of planning a summer retreat for your church or perhaps serving on a retreat planning committee? Whether it's the 1st retreat you've helped to plan or the 40th, the challenge always exists to make each retreat better than the last—with a fresh theme, new activities, and an equally compelling speaker.

Whether you're a parent that works inside or outside the home, are single or married, have one child or six, the challenges you and your family face can be exhausting and frustrating. Unfortunately, staying calm and collected all the time is impossible.

Back in the days before playlists and Spotify, we had mixtapes. For those not from the 80’s and 90’s, a mixtape was simply a unique collection of songs from various artists copied onto one cassette tape. You could listen to ONLY your favorite songs, right in a row! You could even take them with you, and listen on your Walkman! It was amazing!

I’m not saying Don Henley was a prophet, but I do agree with him that the heart of the matter is the heart, and it matters. Well, maybe that's not exactly what he was singing about, but I still think it's true.